Education reform group taps DPS Chief of Staff as next director

Education reform group taps DPS Chief of Staff as next director

DENVER — Jennifer Walmer is leaving her job as Chief of Staff for Denver Public Schools to become the new state director for the group, Democrats for Education Reform.

Walmer has long been a driving force behind education reform initiatives in Colorado, starting at the Capitol, where she worked as Chief of Staff for former Speaker Terrance Carroll, D-Denver, and helped pass the state’s landmark teacher tenure law in 2010, Senate Bill 191.

“Simply said, Jen Walmer is a rockstar,” Carroll said in a release from DFER announcing Walmer’s appointment Monday. “She was responsible for brokering agreements between key stakeholders on SB-191. Without her, we would have had an even tougher time passing this major piece of legislation.”

When Carroll left the legislature after the contentious 2010 session, Walmer went to work for DPS Superintendent Tom Boasberg and has overseen a district that’s nationally known as the largest urban school system in the country that is advancing a strong reform agenda.

Last year, she helped pass the voter-approved $500 million bond and mill initiative for DPS in November 2012.

“I see this opportunity with DFER as the perfect melding of two career passions—politics and education,” Walmer said. “I plan on using my expertise and relationships in both arenas to work tirelessly toward one goal: to ensure the highest quality public education system for Colorado’s children.”